Fraser Anning quits One Nation minutes before being sworn in to Senate
ONE Nation’s newest senator Fraser Anning has sensationally quit the party just minutes before being sworn in to the Senate this morning.
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ONE Nation’s newest senator has departed the party just minutes before being sworn in this morning, with the Queenslander at odds with Pauline Hanson as to whether he quit or was booted from the party.
Senator Hanson said Fraser Anning had abandoned One Nation after a party room blow-up over the perceived disloyalty of his staff, while Senator Anning claims she had “unilaterally kicked me out of her party”.
Senator Hanson this morning said Senator Anning had been encouraged to quit One Nation and join Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives instead.
Senator Hanson this morning confirmed that she had attempted to convince Senator Anning to resign and create a casual vacancy for Malcolm Roberts, the former One Nation senator forced to resign after it emerged he was a dual British citizen.
“I had attempted to speak with Mr Anning while he was overseas, but those efforts fell on deaf ears,” Senator Hanson said.
“I was forced to communicate through Fraser’s brother while I was travelling through North Queensland in September.
“I indicated to Harry Anning at the time, that given the work Malcolm Roberts had achieved as chair of the banking inquiry and his role in challenging climate change, it would be in the federal party’s and Australia’s best interest for Malcolm Roberts to be returned to the Senate.
“I was disappointed Mr Anning made no attempt to contact me or any One Nation executive member off the back of multiple requests to discuss his future plans.”
Senator Anning only spoke to Senator Hanson this morning, but a dispute quickly arose about whether Senator Anning’s staff were welcome in a party room meeting “because of their disloyalty to their former employer (Mr Roberts) and myself”.
Two other One Nation senators, Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou, were unable to convince Senator Anning to remain in the party.